FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

This will be a "Friday's not fave but ten " 

Since a week I am back from my Danube cruise which unfortunately wasn't at all as I expected. I had thought I could rest on the deck and admire the beautiful landscape, instead the ship navigated during the night where I only saw the lights of the little villages. Otherwise the excursions which I expected by bus and not too much walking took place early mornings when the shops were still closed and you had to walk !!  With my lung disease I couldn't walk that much so I stayed on the ship. I couldn't even sleep longer because the restaurant was closed at 9 am ! (I told them what I thought and got a nice breakfast in the panorama room ! Those who were in  the same situation also had to stay on the ship.

Unfortunately the weather was cold and very humid for a few days and you couldn't even sit on the sun deck, while my friend at the beginning participated in the excursions? after 4 times she was so tired and had to stay too, she has Parkinson and hadn't expected this military regime neither ! The ship company was called  Rivages du monde and instead of different nationalities we were 160 French and 18 Belgians ! A few spoke a little English and were surprised that nobody outside the boat spoke French. Even the French don't like to travel with French they only compare to France, and made fun of the Belgians. 

The worst was the lunch, which usually lasted almost 3 hours, very nicely prepared and also very good, but you had to look for the portions with a magnifying glass, they were so small, but since we had 4 courses it was enough. There was as much wine as you wanted, and as soon as the glass was half empty, it was refilled. White and red depending, most took both. Then everybody collapsed in a sofa or in the bed or had to go on an optional excursion to see other churches and ruins. 

I had asked for an alcohol free beer instead of the wine as I don't drink alcohol, the first waiter came and told me that it was not possible, but he would ask his chef. The chef came, told that it was not possible, but he would ask his chef. I thought I was in a joke ! Then the chef called the manager and now they were 4 around me to tell me that it was impossible that if they would make an exception with me they would have to do this with the others too ! I told them it would be better to serve a glass of alcohol free beer than 3 bottles of wine to one person (that was allowed) Finally before I exploded I gave up. I forgot to mention that the price of the beer was 3.50 € ! The others had their fun the manager less ! 

The ship was very nice

The sightseeing way too, only besides Budapest, Munich and Bucarest I haven't seen nothing especially when our ship was anchored in the middle of two others and I could admire the bedrooms of the other ships or just a wall.

we both again at table !

our room was quite spacious and very nice with panorama windows

Even the French started to complain about the long eating hours, especially when they wanted to go to an optional excursion, with the belly full !

and here are the artwork we had for lunch and supper

This was called the "Panorama room" where we got coffee and cake at 4 !

while we were treated to boring music. The singer was good but the piano a bit old fashioned.

 

The Panorama room

we played Scrabble, sometimes with other people too

while we were stuck between two other ships, 

The last evening was a Rumanian evening with local food, music and dancers

and some guests joined in.

There is much more to tell and it will come in the next days together with pictures of the landscapes. It really is a very beautiful part of Europe. 

 

It's a pity that they didn't mention in their catalogue that this cruise was not made for disabled people and certainly not for once in wheelchairs. You need to be a good walker !

 

So from Monday til Friday, I tried to recover from our return flight where we had to get up at 7 am and I went to bed at home at 1 am the rest of the time I spent in airports ! I unpacked my suitcase yesterday!! And my friend got home with a severe Parkinson attack. Long live the badly organized cruises ! 

 

 

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HODGEPODGE JUNE 1st

1. Do you know much about (or understand) Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Does it worry or excite you? 

Neither nor, After all, thanks to artificial intelligence, I learned something new,  that I had never heard of before ! It doesn't worry me at all, my natural intelligence wouldn't be enough to help me to find out how to peel potatoes, but Googles artificial intelligence does ! Very useful indeed !

2. What was the last song you listened to? Your favorite movie soundtrack? What song always puts you in a good mood? 

I have no idea what song it was because I watched "Britain got Talent" and there are so many songs which are beautiful, which unknown people perform. 

 

I have no song which puts me in a good mood, I love a song which fitted so well for Rick's funeral ceremony "Love of my life" from Freddy Mercury.

3. What were you doing ten years ago? 

Thanks to my Blog, I can tell you exactly what I did 10 years ago ! I complained about the rainy weather, but in the afternoon the sun came out and while Rick watched his beloved Formular 1, I went with a friend for a walk in a park and said hello to the Alpacas which were there ! I would always have good alibis thanks to my posts !

4. Your favorite no-bake summer dessert? 

Ice cream !  Stracciatella

5. Something you're looking forward to in June? 

As I just came back from an exhausting Danube cruise, with poor landscape seeing, but mostly based on French food (4 courses, 3 hours) lunch and dinner, I have no plans for June. I have to digest my deception !  I didn't know, or the catalogue didn't mention that it wasn't a cruise for seniors or disabled people so we were prisoners, very well fed, but didn't see a lot, as the ship navigated during night !

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I am thinking of what I have to do, and that's a long list. And as it is so long, I will do like Rosie

 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

Linking to more participants here, and Image-in-ing

BACK FROM MY DANUBE CRUISE

I am back from my cruise on the Danube. I just post one collage because I am very tired the return flight was a mess, In short we got up at 6 am spent hours in  airports and before walked around in Bucarest, and were home at 1 pm. I think I never will take a plane again ! From Bucarest to Brussels I it should take at the most 2 h flight, but with all these checking in waiting hours and delays, I think it's quicker to walk or take a train !

On top of being tired I am also down, it is the the first anniversary of Rick's death. One year now, without him, time flies by so quickly.

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

From Monday til Friday it rained every day and as I am not a frog or a fish it was rather depressing. On top of that I was stressed I thought I would explode or at least my head I had so many things to think of. I don't remember what I have done each day, but it was not the packing of the suitcase which put me in this state, but all the things I had to think of ! When Rick was still there, I just packed my suitcase and of I went. He drove me to the airport and picked me up on my return.

Now I had to think of finding somebody to take care of Rosie, to make a list of everything which has to be closed and done before I leave, pay all invoices and order a taxi. 

I still found a bit of time to say good bye to Nicole, who is much better and again normal, she was sitting together with all the others around a big table and they celebrated "Mother's Day" ! Normally it's on the 14th but there probably a few children will show up. Not all residents get visit from their children, excuse : too busy, gone on holidays, all excuses are good. I can understand, it's very hard to see their parents decline each time a bit more. I know, I went through it. I don't even know how I managed it.

But now I am looking forward to my cruise !

We have to be ready at 4 am ( poor me) and then a taxi will take us to Brussels airport, where we meet the other participants. Then we fly to Munich in Germany and take a bus to the next port. And then the fun starts ! We will be sitting, or laying in our beds and look at the beautiful landscape until Bucharest in Romania. Of course there are lots of stops where we take a Bus to visit the cities. This is the perfect way for seniors to see a lot and don't move a lot. Of course you can't do that several times per year ! It makes a hole in your wallet but it is worthwhile at least I hope so. You never know your own feelings or reactions.

and these two I put in my suitcase

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.